Method of making bullets



May 29, 1934. 1- PAGE 1,961,076

METHOD OF MAKING BULLETS Filed Feb. 13, 1932 IN VEN TOR.

BY W

A TTORNEY Patented May 29, 1934 issue 4: Claims.

This invention is directed to an improved method of manufacture andConstruction of incendiary and tracer bullets wherein to provide abetter balanced bullet and siinplify and reduce the cost of manufacture.

The invention is directed primarily to a method of scaling the base witha View to eliminating trinming for special length jacket and also theusual base soldering, with the result of greatly improving the accuracyand balance of the bullet as Compared with the usual methods of:nanufacture.

It has been heretofore proposed in the finishing of bullets of this typeto spin over the end of the base of the shell, and in this spinning ifthe shell is of a few thousandths extra length, a central burr is thrownup enclosing the case by spinning, necessitating the bufiing ofi of theend or the base oi the bullet in order to permit the bullet to feedproperly in the loading machines. If the shell is of such length thatthe base is not completely closed by the spinning operation, additionalsoldering is necessary, tending to throw the bullet out of balance andthus interfering with accuracy in firing.

The improved method consists in the insertion of a plug of particularfusible metal which, under the heat of the spinning tool, serves to fillin the end of the base perfectly in the event of a slightly longer case,and in the event of a slightly shorter case tending to leave a centralopening in the end, the material of the plug, due to its low fusibilityand the heat of the spinning operation, melting into and completelyfilling the opening smoothly to provide a perfect base, with the bulletin desired and perfect balance.

The method is illustrated more graphically in the accompanying drawing,in which:--

Figure 1 is a View of the shell completed, except for the finish of theend, with the improved plug in place.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the shell completed, the illustrationbeing of a slightly reduced length shell which in the spinning provide acentral opening which is filled by the material of the plug.

Figure 3 is a face View of the plug.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same.

The plug or solder disk of the invention is indicated at 1, and in thepreferred detail is made up of six parts of lead, six parts of tin, andone part of bismuth. The case 2 filled with the usual ingredients,indicated at 3 and having the opening 4 filled with a low fusible alloy,is open at the end, as indicated, and completed after the insertion ofthe ingredients by spinning the end down onto a plug usually forced intothe shell behind the materials theren.

Owing to the low fusibility of the solder disk or plug of thisinvention, it is apparent that if the case is a few thousandths short ofan exactly predetermined length, when the spinning operation iscompleted the end 5 will present a central opening 6, which openingunder the melting of the solder disk or plug incident to the spinningfriction will be automatically filled evenly with the material of theplug, as indicated at '7. Of course, the plug itself will, by reason ofits fusibility, completely fill the end of the shell or case as thelatter is closed, and if the length is a few thousandths in excess ofthe predetermined length, the plug will obviously fill the end.

With the solder disk or plug of the invention, the accurate balance ofthe bullet is provided for as, of course, the weight of the fusible plugis such as to nsure this balance. Under the spinning action to completethe end of the bullet, the plug by reason of its low fusibility servingto completely fill the end even under slightly excess length of theshell and to completely fill the opening resulting from a slightlydininished length of the shell, insures that the spinning operationcompletes the shell without the necessty of additional work ormaterials. Thus the product is produced at a minimum cost, while at thesame time maintaining the perfect balance desired and determined by theparticular solder disk or plug used.

The improved solder disk will, in the shorter bullet jacket or shell,fill the opening resulting in With the method described, each bullet isof that perfect length and formation necessary to feed through thehoppers of the loading machines, and owing to the lack of disturbance inbalance incident to the present methods of manufacture and a consequentimperfect accuracy in firing, the 1 improved method results in aperfectly balanced bullet, with a consequent perfect accuracy in firing.

The method, while primarily designed for use in connection with tracerand incendiary bullets and the drawing illustrates bullets of thatcalibre and type, is obviously applicable to heaver ammunition or othertypes of ammunition of various gauges, rifle or artillery, and its usein such is intended to be within the scope of the present in- Vention.

I claim:-

l. The method of completing the manufaoture of a bullet of the typeincluding a casing designed to be loaded and the end thereof moved intofinal position by spinning, consisting in sealing the casing behind theload With a plug in the form of a disk susceptible to the heat of thespinning operation for flowng to automatically Compensate forirregularities in closing'the end'of the casing.

2. A method of automatically compensating for irregularities in closingthe open end of a loaded shell or bullet by spinning, consisting insealing the end of the shell or bullet With a fusble solder plug of aweight predetermined the aocuracy of the shell or bullet, and utilizingthe heat of the spinnng operation to flow the plug to Compensate forirregularities in the shell or bullet closing. 3. A method ofautomatically compensating for irregularities in closing the end of theloaded shell or bullet, consisting in sealing the open end of the shellor bullet with a fusible plug, turning in the sides of the shell orbullet to close the end of the same, and simultaneously fusing the plug,whereby the plug under such heat-responsive flowing will automaticallycompensate for shell or bullet closing irregularities.

i 4: A method of completing the manufacture of a loaded shell ordbullet,consisting in sealing the casing behind the load With a plug of lead,tin, and bismuth, and spinning the end of the shell or bullet onto theplug, the heat of the spinning operation fusing the plug for sufiicientfiowing to eompensate for closng irregularities.

THOMAS L. PAGE. [L.S.]

